Deadline: 15-Sep-20
UNESCO, UNFPA, and UNODC Offices in Lebanon are jointly launching a Call for Proposals in response to the recent Beirut Blasts.
In recognition of the spirit of solidarity and inter-cultural exchange that has prevailed in the immediate aftermath of the explosion, especially amongst young women and men volunteers across the country, and in view of the complexity of the humanitarian interventions, this Call for Proposals targets NGOs/CSOs/Academic centers and seeks to further support, mobilize, and empower youth-led initiatives and efforts for the community’s response and recovery.
The sudden devastation also came at a time when the country is severely overwhelmed with economic and financial crisis, political and socio-economic challenges and rising rates of unemployment, poverty, and internal conflicts; as well as risk of Coronavirus. The UN has been actively assisting in the immediate response to this incident through the provision of financial, technical and humanitarian support.
Young volunteers and youth organizations have been active in leading and contributing to civic relief and support efforts in the most affected neighborhoods. A spontaneous solidarity movement has been created and hundreds of youth from various regions took personal initiatives to offer their support in the ravaged areas.
This Call for Proposals seeks to further support, mobilize, and empower these youth-led initiatives and efforts for the community’s response and recovery.
Pillars
Proposed projects should be related to any of the following 4 pillars in both immediate and mid-terms (up to 6 months):
- Mobilize active youth to participate in the recovery and community support to reach out to the vulnerable population groups in the affected areas of Beirut, while bearing in mind human rights, integrity and gender perspective;
- Engage youth to continue to actively engage in their schools and communities through the promotion of values and life skills development and support programme, also through sport and arts and other creative outlets, to help them build resilience and cope with the increased risks, including anxiety and stress at individual and family level, and the interruption of education, sport and other community activities;
- Initiating and participating in evidence-based responses such as needs assessment, research, documentary production, and dialogue and campaigning to investigate key issues and to advocate for inclusiveness, human rights, justice, anti-corruption, and human solidarity.
- Empower youth to become champions for just societies by building their understanding of challenges in the community (e.g. lack of respect for diversity, abuse of human rights and the importance of women empowerment) and how these are interconnected with global challenges as well as helping them engage and advocate in favor of the rule of law and policymaking by actively promoting values and practices of respect, integrity, justice, solidarity, transparency, accountability, etc.
Conditions
- The proposed project should be developmental in focus and should facilitate and enhance mobilization and coordination instead of rehabilitation work itself (purchase of materials, construction, transport etc.). Examples of focus areas: educational, socio-cultural, sport, artistic, environmental, psycho-social, media-related, awareness raising activities, etc.
- The proposed project should be NEEDS-BASED; helping meet a specific need or resolve a specific challenge faced by the local affected community.
- The target population group (e.g. families, youth, children, injured individuals, elderly, etc.), the implementation action plan, and the outcomes need to be clearly identified
- The project should encourage a participative and multi-stakeholder approach that mobilizes and engages relevant stakeholders from the local community (e.g. young people, schools, community leaders, local government) in addressing the identified challenges.
- Creative and innovative ideas are encouraged.
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Conditions of Covid-19 risks and precautions related to the project, must be explained.
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It is encouraged that NGOs try to collaborate together on the proposed project; in order to promote partnerships on the ground and avoid duplication of efforts.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for this Call, the following criteria need to be met:
- Lead submitter to be a registered civil society organization, NGO or center (research, academic, etc.) based in Lebanon (ideally youth-led or at least 50% of active members are youth).
- Proposals that involve partners (and youth) from diverse socio-cultural and geographic (regions) backgrounds are encouraged.
- Proposed project able to be implemented immediately/ as soon as possible.
- Experience in youth and community projects and activities in Lebanon; ideally with some experience in post-disaster settings.
- Experience working with young women and men in Lebanon and in conducting capacity-building workshops for youth and local communities around various educational or socio-cultural issues.
- Previous experience working with UN organizations is preferable.
- Capability to communicate and work well in both English and in Arabic.
For more information, visit https://en.unesco.org/news/call-proposals-youth-led-actions-support-communities-affected-beirut-blasts-2020